The Northwestern
Indiana Regional Planning Commission (NIRPC) will hold ten public meetings
to get input from region residents, businesses, and stakeholders on NIRPC’S
vision and needs for 2050.

NIRPC is currently
developing its next long-range plan to 2050. The long-range plan is a core
transportation planning document required by the United States Department of
Transportation (USDOT) of a Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) that
will address the environment, economic development, and transportation. The
2050 Plan will be the approved vision document for the MPO identifying
investments and strategies to pursue in the future. The 2050 Plan is
expected to be adopted by May 2019.

The public meetings
will be held throughout Lake, LaPorte and Porter Counties. All are
encouraged to join to discuss the future of Northwestern Indiana. The
meetings are as follows:

* April 30, 2018 at
5:00 p.m. at the Crown Point Community Library at 122 N Main Street, Crown
Point

* May 1, 2018 at
4:00 p.m. at the Michigan City Public Library at 100 E 4th Street, Michigan
City

* May 2, 2018 at
1:30 p.m. at the Merrillville Municipal Complex at 7820 Broadway,
Merrillville

* May 3, 2018 at
4:00 p.m. at Purdue University Northwest Westville Campus at 1401 U.S. 421,
Westville

* May 7, 2018 at
5:00 p.m. at the East Chicago Public Library at 2401 E Columbus Drive, East
Chicago

* May 17, 2018 at
5:30 p.m. at Steel City Academy at 2650 West 35th Avenue, Gary

All comments
received will be considered as NIRPC staff crafts a new vision, goals and
need statement for the NIRPC commission to consider adopting for the 2050
Plan. Documents and information will be available for review at the public
meetings, as well as on NIRPC's website at
www.nirpc.org

Requests for
alternative formats may be directed to Mary Thorne at (219) 763-6060, ext.
131, or by email at mthorne@nirpc.org. TTY users may use the Relay Indiana
service by calling 711 or (800) 743-3333.

Comments may be
submitted in-person at one of the ten meetings or until May 18, 2018, by
email at comments@nirpc.org, by phone at (219)763-6060, ext. 160, or by
postal mail at NIRPC, 6100 Southport Road, Portage, IN 46368.

NIRPC is the
Metropolitan Planning Organization and regional council of local governments
for Lake, Porter, and LaPorte Counties. NIRPC provides the forum for local
elected officials, regional, leadership, and citizens to address regional
issues relating to transportation, the environment and community and
economic development. NIRPC seeks to develop consensus solutions with the
broadest participation.